Saad named Calder Memorial Trophy finalist

Saad named Calder Memorial Trophy finalistThe National Hockey League announced today the finalists for the 2013 Calder Memorial Trophy, honoring the league\u2019s top rookie, naming Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad as one of three players up for the award. Forwards Brendan Gallagher (Montreal Canadiens) and Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida Panthers) were also named finalists.

Saad

The National Hockey League announced today the finalists for the 2013 Calder Memorial Trophy, honoring the league’s top rookie, naming Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad as one of three players up for the award. Forwards Brendan Gallagher (Montreal Canadiens) and Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida Panthers) were also named finalists.

Saad, 20, tallied 27 points (10G, 17A) in 46 games this season with the Blackhawks, sharing fifth on the team in points and ranking fourth in assists. He paced NHL rookies in plus/minus (plus-17), ranked third in assists and was fifth in points. He shared fifth in goals, was one of five rookies to score a shorthanded goal and was tied for fifth in game-winning goals (2). Saad ranked second among league rookies with 26 takeaways.

The Pittsburgh, Penn., native scored his first-career NHL goal on Feb. 5 at San Jose and tallied a season-high three points twice (March 5 and March 31). The 6-1, 202-pound forward posted 18 points (7G, 11A) in 30 regular-season contests with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League prior to joining the Blackhawks.